Fluid conveyance system for earthmoving machine

ABSTRACT

An earthmoving machine includes a frame, a boom, an elongated member, an attachment, a conduit, and a reel. The frame supports a fluid source. The boom includes a first end coupled to the frame and a second end opposite the first end. The elongated member is movably coupled to the boom and includes a first end and a second end. The attachment is coupled to the second end of the elongated member. The conduit is in fluid communication with the fluid source and conveys fluid between the fluid source and the attachment. The reel supports at least a portion of the conduit. The reel is rotatable to reel in and pay out the conduit as the elongated member moves relative to the boom.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/636,418, filed Apr. 20, 2012, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to the field of earthmoving machines.Specifically, the present invention relates to a fluid conveyance systemfor a machine attachment.

On a conventional rope shovel, a frame supports a boom, and a handle iscoupled to the boom such that the handle can be moved rotationally andtranslationally relative to the boom. An attachment such as a dipper iscoupled to a handle, and the dipper is supported by a cable, or hoistrope, that passes over an end of the boom. The rope is secured to a bailthat is pivotably coupled to the dipper. During the hoist phase, therope is reeled in by a hoist drum, lifting the dipper upwardly through abank of material and liberating a portion of the material. Many of thesecomponents require frequent lubrication. However, any fluid conduit forproviding a lubrication medium to the various points that requirelubrication must be capable of accommodating the wide range oftranslational and rotation movement of the handle and dipper withrespect to the frame.

Furthermore, the orientation of the dipper relative to the handle isgenerally fixed during a dig cycle such that the operator cannot controlthe motion of the dipper independent of the handle and hoist rope inresponse to variations in the digging conditions. It is possible toimprove the shovel's versatility by replacing the dipper with apivotable bucket and actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders, forpivoting the bucket relative to the handle. However, any fluid conduitor electrical wiring must be capable of accommodating the wide range oftranslational and rotation movement of the handle and bucket withrespect to the frame.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the invention provides an earthmoving machineincluding a frame, a boom, an elongated member, an attachment, aconduit, and a reel. The frame supports a fluid source. The boomincludes a first end coupled to the frame and a second end opposite thefirst end. The elongated member is movably coupled to the boom andincludes a first end and a second end. The attachment is coupled to thesecond end of the elongated member. The conduit is in fluidcommunication with the fluid source and conveys fluid between the fluidsource and the attachment. The reel supports at least a portion of theconduit. The reel is rotatable to reel in and pay out the conduit as theelongated member moves relative to the boom.

In another embodiment, the invention provides an earthmoving machineincluding a frame, a handle, an attachment, a rotary union, a conduit,and a reel. The frame supports a fluid source and a boom. The handle ismovably coupled to the boom for translational and rotational movementrelative to the boom. The handle includes a first end and a second end.The attachment is coupled to the second end of the handle. The rotaryunion includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portionis stationary relative to the boom and is in fluid communication withthe fluid source. The second portion is in fluid communication with thefirst portion and is movable relative to the first portion. The conduitis in fluid communication with the second portion of the rotary unionand extends between the second portion of the rotary union and theattachment. The reel supports at least a portion of the conduit and isrotatable to reel in and pay out the conduit as the handle movesrelative to the boom.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a fluid conveyancesystem for an earthmoving machine having a frame supporting a fluidsource and a boom, an elongated member movably coupled to the boom andhaving a first end and a second end, and an attachment coupled to thesecond end of the elongated member. The fluid conveyance system includesa rotary union, a conduit, and a reel. The rotary union includes a firstportion and a second portion. The first portion is stationary relativeto the boom and is in fluid communication with the fluid source. Thesecond portion is in fluid communication with the first portion andmovable relative to the first portion. The conduit provides fluid to aportion of the attachment and is in fluid communication with the secondportion of the rotary union. The reel supports at least a portion of theconduit and is coupled to the second portion of the rotary union. Thereel is rotatable to reel in and pay out the conduit as the elongatedmember moves relative to the boom.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mining shovel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a handle, a saddle block, a shippershaft, and a bucket.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the handle, saddle block, and shipper shaft,of FIG. 2 taken along section 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fluid conveyance system with a handlein an extended position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fluid conveyance system of FIG. 4with the handle in a retracted position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a reel and a swivel.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the swivel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the swivel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a section view of the reel of FIG. 6 taken along section 9-9and including a transmission.

FIG. 10 is a section view of the reel and swivel of FIG. 6 taken alongsection 10-10 and including the transmission of FIG. 9 and the saddleblock and shipper shaft of FIG. 2.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged section view of the transmission of FIG. 9 andthe shipper shaft.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the reel of FIG. 6 coupled to atransmission according to another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a reel according to another embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a section view of the reel of FIG. 13 taken along section14-14 and including a transmission according to another embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the shovel including a fluid conveyance systemaccording to another embodiment.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood thatthe phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a mining shovel 10 rests on a support surface orfloor, and includes a frame 22 supporting a boom 26, an elongated memberor handle 30, an attachment or bucket 34 including pivot actuators 36,and a fluid conveyance system 38. The frame 22 includes a hoist drum 40for reeling in and paying out a cable or hoist rope 42. The boom 26includes a first end 46 coupled to the frame 22, a second end 50opposite the first end 46, a boom sheave 54, a saddle block 58, and ashipper shaft 62. The boom sheave 54 is coupled to the second end 50 ofthe boom 26 and guides the rope 42 over the second end 50. The saddleblock 58 is rotatably coupled to the boom 26 by the shipper shaft 62,which is positioned between the first end 46 and the second end 50 ofthe boom 26. The shipper shaft 62 extends through the boom 26 in adirection that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the boom 26, andincludes at least one pinion 70 (FIG. 3). The rope 42 is coupled to thebucket 34 by a bail 66, and the bucket 34 is raised or lowered as therope 42 is reeled in or paid out, respectively, by the hoist drum 40.

As shown in FIG. 2, the handle 30 includes a pair of arms 78 defining afirst end 82, a second end 86, and a rack 90 for engaging the pinion 70.The second end 86 is movably received in the saddle block 58, and thehandle 30 passes through the saddle block 58 such that the handle iscapable of rotational and translational movement relative to the boom26. Stated another way, the handle 30 is linearly extendable relative tothe saddle block 58 and is rotatable about the shipper shaft 62. Thefirst end 82 is pivotably coupled to the bucket 34. The saddle block 58is rotatable relative to the boom 26 (FIG. 1) about the shipper shaft62, and the handle 30 rotates relative to the boom 26 while the arms 78remain in the saddle block 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle30 is substantially straight. In other embodiments, the handle 30 mayinclude a curved portion. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rack 90 engagesthe pinion 70, forming a rack and pinion coupling between the handle 30(FIG. 2) and the boom 26 (FIG. 1). Rotation of the shipper shaft 62facilitates translational movement of the handle 30 relative to the boom26.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the bucket 34 is aclamshell-type bucket having a main body 98 and an end wall 102 that canbe separated from the main body 98 to empty the contents of the bucket34. In other embodiments, the shovel 10 may include other types ofattachments, buckets, or dippers. Each pivot actuator 36 is coupledbetween the bucket 34 and the handle 30. The pivot actuators 36 activelycontrol the pitch of the bucket 34 by rotating the bucket 34 about thehandle first end 82. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot actuators36 are hydraulic cylinders.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fluid conveyance system 38 includes afirst conduit 106, a valve block 114 coupled to the handle 30 proximatethe second end 86, a rotary union or swivel 118, a reel 122, atransmission 126 (FIGS. 9 and 10), and a second conduit 130. In otherembodiments, a fluid conveyance system 38 is positioned on each side ofthe handle 30. The first conduit 106 extends between a fluid source 132on the frame 22 and the swivel 118 and provides fluid communicationtherebetween. The second conduit 130 includes a first, stationaryportion 130 a that extends substantially along the handle 30 from thesecond end 86 toward the first end 82 (FIG. 2) and a second, adjustableportion 130 b that is alternatively wrapped onto and paid out by thereel 122. In the illustrated embodiment, the first portion 130 a is influid communication with the valve block 114 and is in fluidcommunication with the pivot actuators 36 to provide pressurized fluidto the actuators 36. The first portion 130 a is also in communicationwith various mechanical connections on the bucket 34 and the handle 30to provide a lubrication medium to the connections. It is understoodthat the first portion 130 a is connected to the pivot actuators 36and/or the mechanical connections on the bucket 34 by one or moreconventional tubes or hoses 132 (shown schematically in FIG. 2), whichmay extend internally through the handle 30. In other embodiments, thesecond conduit 130 does not include a first portion 130 a extendingsubstantially along the handle 30 but instead only the second portion130 b extending directly from the reel 122 to the first end 82 of thehandle 30. As discussed in further detail below, channels 166 (FIG. 6)provide fluid communication between the swivel 118 and the secondconduit 130.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the swivel 118 includes a first, stationaryportion or manifold 134 and a second, rotating portion or rotary housing138 positioned around at least a portion of the manifold 134. Themanifold 134 includes inlet ports 142 and passages 146 extending throughthe rotary housing 138. In one embodiment, the manifold 134 is coupledto a stationary portion of the frame 22 in order to support the manifold134 and the first conduit 106 against torque caused by the rotation ofthe reel 122 and the rotating portion 138. The inlet ports 142 are influid communication with a fluid source 132 (FIGS. 4 and 5) or pump (notshown) via the first conduit 106. The passages 146 are in fluidcommunication with the inlet ports 142. The rotary housing 138 isrotatable relative to the manifold 134 and includes seals 152 (FIG. 8)to seal the internal passages 146 of the manifold 134 with respect toone another, and outlet ports 154 in fluid communication with thepassages 146. The rotary housing 138 is coupled to the reel 122 (FIG. 7)such that the rotary housing 138 rotates with the reel 122 while themanifold 134 remains stationary.

Referring to FIG. 6, the reel 122 includes a body 158 and a surface 162extending along the periphery of the body 158. Channels 166 are securedto the body 158 and are in fluid communication with the outlet ports 154of the rotary housing 138. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 158is circular and the channels 166 extend from the rotary housing 138 tothe surface 162 in a generally radial direction. The second portion 130b of the second conduit 130 is in fluid communication with the channels166, which secure the second portion 130 b to the reel 122. The secondportion 130 b is also coupled to the valve block 114 (FIG. 5) proximatethe handle second end 86 (FIG. 5) and is in fluid communication with thefirst portion 130 a (FIG. 5). As the reel 122 rotates, the secondportion 130 b wraps around the surface 162. In the illustratedembodiment, a circumference of the reel 122 is approximately equal to amaximum extension length of the handle 30 (i.e., a length of the rack90, also referred to as the crowd distance). As a result, the reel 122rotates through approximately 360 degrees as the handle is retracted orextended, thereby causing the second portion 130 b of the second conduit130 to wrap substantially around the reel 122 when the handle 30 isfully extended. In other embodiments, the reel 122 may rotate throughmore or less than 360 degrees (i.e., more or less than one fullrotation) as the handle 30 moves between the retracted and extendedpositions. Also, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, thereel 122 rotates clockwise as the handle 30 is extended andcounter-clockwise as the handle 30 is retracted. In other embodiments inwhich the second portion 130 b of the second conduit 130 extendsdirectly between the reel 122 and the first end 82 of the handle 30, thesecond portion 130 b is wrapped around the reel 122 as the handle 30 isretracted.

As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the transmission 126 is a planetary gear systemincluding an input gear or sun gear 174, spur or planet gears 178, acarrier 182 coupled to the planetary gears 178, and a ring gear 186coupled to the saddle block 58 (FIG. 10). The sun gear 174 is coupled tothe shipper shaft 62 (FIGS. 10 and 11) such that rotation of the shippershaft 62 drives the sun gear 174. The carrier 182 rotates as the planetgears 178 revolve around the sun gear 174, and the carrier 182 iscoupled to the reel 122 such that the rotation of the carrier 182 causesthe reel 122 to rotate and pay out or reel in the second portion 130 bof the second conduit 130. The transmission 126 therefore provides aspeed reduction from the shipper shaft 62 to the reel 122 in order tomatch the length of second portion 130 b of the second conduit 130 paidout by the reel 122 as the handle 30 moves in a linear manner. In theillustrated embodiment, the gear ratio is equal to a diameter of thereel 122 divided by a diameter of the pinion 70. In the illustratedembodiment, when the sun gear 174 rotates in a first direction, thecarrier 182 and ring gear 186 rotate in a second direction opposite thefirst direction. Thus, the reel 122 rotates in an opposite direction ofthe rotation of the shipper shaft 62. In other embodiments, thetransmission is configured so that the reel 122 rotates in the samedirection as the shipper shaft 62.

As the rack 90 (FIG. 10) travels over the pinion 70 (FIG. 10) androtates the shipper shaft 62 and sun gear 174, the reel 122 pays out theappropriate amount of the second portion 130 b of the second conduit130. In the illustrated embodiment, an additional length of the secondportion 130 b is paid out by the reel 122 in order to prevent the secondconduit 130 from being placed under excess tension. Because the reel 122is centered on the rotation axis of the pinion 70 in the illustratedembodiment, the length of the second portion 130 b that is paid out willremain relatively constant.

The fluid conveyance system 38 supplies pressurized fluid to the pivotactuators 36 and accommodates various extension conditions of the handle30 relative to the saddle block 58 and boom 26. The second conduit 130carries fluid in a manner that is functionally parallel to the rack andpinion interaction of the handle 30 and shipper shaft 62, and the pinion70 of the shipper shaft 62 drives rotation of the reel 122 in order totake up or pay out the second portion 130 b of the second conduit 130 asthe handle 30 moves. The transmission 126 is configured to provide adesired timing relationship between the rotation of the shipper shaft 62and the rotation of the reel 122. In this way, the fluid conveyancesystem 38 utilizes the rotation of the shipper shaft 62 to pay out andreel in the correct length of the second portion 130 b. In someembodiments, the fluid conveyance system 38 supplies a lubricationmedium, such as grease, to various connection points on the bucket 34,such as the coupling between the bucket 34 and the first end 82 of thehandle 30, the coupling between the main body 98 and the end wall 102 ofthe bucket 34, and the coupling between the bail 66 and the bucket 34.In some embodiments, the lubrication medium includes a liquid, solid, orsemi-solid lubricant.

FIG. 12 illustrates a transmission 526 according to another embodimentof the invention, and including a dual reduction parallel shaftconfiguration rather than a planetary gearbox. The transmission 526includes a first shaft 532 coupled to the shipper shaft 62 and a secondshaft (not shown) coupled to the reel 122. In the illustratedembodiment, the first shaft 532 is coupled to a pinion 540 that engagesa first gear 544. The first gear 544 is coupled to a second gear 548(for example, by mounting on a common shaft 536), which engages a finaldrive gear 552 coupled to the reel 122 via the second shaft. Rotation ofthe final drive gear 552 rotates the reel 122. The dual reductiontransmission 526 permits the reel 122 to rotate in the same direction asthe shipper shaft 62. The transmission 526 is coupled to the boom 26(FIG. 1) or another structure that is unaffected by the motion of therack 90 and pinion 70.

In other embodiments, the reel 122 is not positioned adjacent theshipper shaft 62 but in another location on the machine 10, such as nearan upper portion of the boom 26 (FIG. 15), near a lower portion of theboom 26, or on the machine house on the frame 22. In still otherembodiments, the reel 122 is driven by an alternative input instead ofbeing driven by the shipper shaft 62. The alternative input includes amotor coupled to the reel to drive the reel 122 independently of theshipper shaft 62, or coupling the boom sheave 54 to the reel 122 todrive the reel 122. Also, other embodiments of the reel 122 include aconstant tensioner (not shown) to control the length of the secondportion 130 b of the second conduit 130 that is paid out. As the handle30 extends and retracts, the tensioner applies a torque to the reel 122to keep the second portion 130 b of the second conduit 130 taut as it ispaid out or reeled in. In addition, the second portion 130 b of thesecond conduit 130 may wrap around the reel 122 in various ways. Thisincludes either single or multi-wrapping, and wrapping the secondportion 130 b of the second conduit 130 such that the second portion 130b exits the reel 122 either on the top or the bottom of the reel 122, orthe second portion 130 b exits the reel 122 on the side proximate thebucket 34 or the side proximate the frame 22 of the shovel 10.Furthermore, the second portion 130 b may be coupled to the handle 30proximate the first end 82 rather than being coupled to the firstportion 130 a extending along the handle 30 from the second end 86toward the first end 82.

FIGS. 13-14 illustrate a reel 922 for supporting at least a portion offluid conduit and a transmission 926 (FIG. 14) for driving rotation ofthe reel 922 according to another embodiment. The reel 922 includes asurface 962 defined by arms 970 positioned proximate a perimeter of thereel 922. The second portion 130 b of the second conduit 130 wrapsaround the surface 962 as the reel 922 rotates. As shown in FIG. 14, thereel 922 also includes channels 966 and a valve block 968 positionedproximate the surface 962. In the illustrated embodiment, the channels966 extend from the rotary housing 138 to the valve block 968. Thechannels 966 are in fluid communication with the outlet ports of therotary housing 138 similar to the channels 166 described above withrespect to FIG. 6. The second portion 130 b is in fluid communicationwith the channels 966 via the valve block 968, which secures the secondportion 130 b to the reel 922. In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the surface962 has a spiral shape and the valve block 968 is positioned between thesurface 962 and the swivel 118, allowing the second portion 130 b towrap onto the surface 962 and over the valve block 968. The position ofthe valve block 968 prevents the valve block 968 from interfering withor binding the second portion 130 b as the reel 922 rotates, permittingthe reel 922 to move through more than 360 degrees in at least onedirection of rotation. Because the reel 922 can extend through more thanone full rotation, the reel 922 can be sized such that the circumferenceof the surface 962 is smaller than the maximum length of the secondportion 130 b that is reeled in or paid out.

As shown in FIG. 14, the transmission 926 includes a carrier 960, a hub964 supported for rotation relative to the carrier 960 (for example, bya bearing 974), an input gear 968 coupled to an end of the shipper shaft62, and a pair of idler gears 972. The carrier 960 supports the inputgear 968 for rotation. In one embodiment, the carrier 960 is coupled tothe saddle block 58 (FIG. 10). The hub 964 is coupled to the reel 922.In the illustrated embodiment, an internal ring gear 976 is coupled tothe hub 964 and rotation of the ring gear 976 causes rotation of thereel 922. The idler gears 972 a, 972 b are each supported for rotationby the carrier 960 and are mounted sequentially between the input gear968 and the ring gear 976. As the shipper shaft 62 rotates, the inputgear 968 rotates within the hub 964. The input gear 968 drives a firstidler gear 972 a, which rotates a second idler gear 972 b. The secondidler gear 972 b engages the ring gear 976, causing the hub 964 (andtherefore the reel 922) to rotate.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14, the idler gears 972 areapproximately the same size, such that there is little, if any, speedreduction between the two gears 972. Rather, the provision of the pairof idler gears 972 produces a desired direction of rotation in the reel922. In other embodiments, the idler gears 972 may be sized differentlyto produce a speed reduction. The embodiment of FIG. 14 improves thetiming relationship between the shipper shaft 62 and the reel 922 toreduce the discrepancy between the amount of travel of the handle 30 andthe amount of the second portion 130 b of the second conduit 130 that ispaid out by the reel 922.

Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a fluid conveyancesystem for an earthmoving machine. Although the invention has beendescribed in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments,variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one ormore independent aspects of the invention as described.

1. An earthmoving machine comprising: a frame supporting a fluid source;a boom including a first end coupled to the frame and a second endopposite the first end; an elongated member movably coupled to the boom,the elongated member including a first end and a second end; anattachment coupled to the second end of the elongated member; a conduitin fluid communication with the fluid source, the conduit conveyingfluid between the fluid source and the attachment; and a reel supportingat least a portion of the conduit, the reel being rotatable to reel inand pay out the conduit as the elongated member moves relative to theboom.
 2. The earthmoving machine of claim 1, wherein the attachmentincludes a hydraulic actuator coupled to the elongated member, theconduit providing fluid to the hydraulic actuator.
 3. The earthmovingmachine of claim 2, wherein the attachment includes a bucket pivotablycoupled to the second end of the elongated member, the hydraulicactuator pivoting the bucket relative to the elongated member.
 4. Theearthmoving machine of claim 1, wherein the boom includes a shippershaft extending transversely through the boom, the elongated memberengaging the shipper shaft such that rotation of the shipper shaftdrives the elongated member for translational movement relative to theboom.
 5. The earthmoving machine of claim 4, wherein the reel is drivenby rotation of the shipper shaft.
 6. The earthmoving machine of claim 5,further comprising a transmission including at least one gear driven bythe rotation of the shipper shaft and thereby causing rotation of thereel.
 7. The earthmoving machine of claim 1, further comprising a rotaryunion including a stationary portion and a rotating portion in fluidcommunication with the stationary portion, the rotating portion beingcoupled to the reel; wherein the conduit includes a first portion and asecond portion, the first portion providing fluid communication betweenthe fluid source and the stationary portion of the rotary union, thesecond portion providing fluid communication between the rotatingportion of the rotary union and the attachment.
 8. An earthmovingmachine comprising: a frame supporting a fluid source and a boom; ahandle movably coupled to the boom for translational and rotationalmovement relative to the boom, the handle including a first end and asecond end; an attachment coupled to the second end of the handle; arotary union including a first portion and a second portion, the firstportion stationary relative to the boom and in fluid communication withthe fluid source, the second portion in fluid communication with thefirst portion and movable relative to the first portion; a conduit influid communication with the second portion of the rotary union andextending between the second portion of the rotary union and theattachment; and a reel supporting at least a portion of the conduit, thereel being rotatable to reel in and pay out the conduit as the handlemoves relative to the boom.
 9. The earthmoving machine of claim 8,further comprising a hydraulic actuator coupled between the attachmentand the handle, the conduit providing fluid communication between therotary union and the hydraulic actuator.
 10. The earthmoving machine ofclaim 9, wherein the attachment includes a bucket pivotably coupled tothe second end of the handle, the hydraulic actuator pivoting the bucketrelative to the handle.
 11. The earthmoving machine of claim 8, furthercomprising a shipper shaft extending transversely through the boom, thehandle engaging the shipper shaft such that rotation of the shippershaft drives the handle for translational movement relative to the boom.12. The earthmoving machine of claim 11, wherein the reel is driven byrotation of the shipper shaft.
 13. The earthmoving machine of claim 12,further comprising a transmission including at least one gear fortransmitting rotation of the shipper shaft to rotation of the reel. 14.A fluid conveyance system for an earthmoving machine, the earthmovingmachine having a frame supporting a fluid source and a boom, anelongated member movably coupled to the boom and having a first end anda second end, and an attachment coupled to the second end of theelongated member, the fluid conveyance system comprising: a rotary unionincluding a first portion and a second portion, the first portionstationary relative to the boom and in fluid communication with thefluid source, the second portion in fluid communication with the firstportion and movable relative to the first portion; a conduit forproviding fluid to a portion of the attachment, the conduit in fluidcommunication with the second portion of the rotary union; and a reelsupporting at least a portion of the conduit and being coupled to thesecond portion of the rotary union, the reel being rotatable to reel inand pay out the conduit as the elongated member moves relative to theboom.
 15. The fluid conveyance system of claim 14, wherein the reel isadapted to be driven by a shipper shaft that drives the elongated memberfor translational movement relative to the boom.
 16. The fluidconveyance system of claim 14, further comprising a transmission adaptedto drive the reel, the transmission including at least one gear forrotating the reel.
 17. The fluid conveyance system of claim 16, whereinthe transmission includes an input gear driven by rotation of theshipper shaft, a spur gear engaging the input gear, and a ring gearcoupled to the reel and engaging the spur gear, rotation of the ringgear causing rotation of the reel.
 18. The fluid conveyance system ofclaim 16, wherein the transmission includes an input gear driven byrotation of the shipper shaft, at least one planet gear engaging theinput gear and revolving around the input gear, and a carrier supportingthe at least one planet gear and coupled to the reel, wherein revolutionof the at least one planet gear causes rotation of the carrier and thereel.
 19. The fluid conveyance system of claim 16, wherein thetransmission includes a first shaft coupled to the shipper shaft and asecond shaft coupled to the reel, the first shaft having a pinionengaging a first gear, the first gear being coupled to a second gearthat rotates the second shaft.
 20. The fluid conveyance system of claim14, further comprising a second conduit extending between the fluidsource and the first portion of the rotary union and being adapted toprovide fluid communication therebetween.
 21. The fluid conveyancesystem of claim 14, wherein the reel defines a surface for supportingthe conduit, the rotary union including a channel extending between thesecond portion of the rotary union and the surface, the channelproviding fluid communication between the second portion of the rotaryunion and the conduit.